The Hamad Port, which is Qatar’s main gateway for trade with the world, has succeeded in breaking the unjust siege imposed on Qatar since June 5 with the opening of five new shipping lines, under the direction of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and in cooperation with a number of Hamad Port partners such as the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk Company and Qatar Navigation Company “Milaha”. said Captain Abdul Aziz al Yafei, Director of Hamad Port.

In a statement to QNA, Al Yafei said that Hamad Port’s new lines connect directly to several ports in the region and beyond such as Sohar and Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman and the ports of Mundra and Nhava Sheva Ports in India and the port of Izmir in Turkey and other ports served by these international companies from all over the world. Al Yafei pointed out that the Qatar Ports Management Company (MWANI Qatar) received in the first half of this year up to 470,000 tonnes of general cargo and about 407,000 heads of livestock, in addition to 449,000 tonnes of Gabbro and building materials.

Al Yafei added that the MWANI Qatar is currently working to expand the direct maritime lines and connect Hamad Port to other ports around the world, which will contribute to the provision of stocks of materials and commodities, especially after the New Port Project (NPP) Steering Committee signed a contract for designing and constructing food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port at a cost of QR 1.6bn. Phase I of the project will be completed after 26 months and consists of specialised facilities for the processing, manufacturing, and refining of rice, raw sugar, and edible oils. These products will be available for local, regional and global use and will provide food for three million people over two and a half years. MWANI Qatar, as the operator of Hamad Port, is working on a strategic plan to provide a stable supply chain platform for the local market and the Qatari economy over the long term, Al Yafei said.

In order to ensure that the growing needs of the local market are met on the one hand, and to strengthen status of Hamad Port as a vital commercial centre in the region on the other hand, the company seeks to build strong partnerships with all shipping companies around the world, especially as Hamad Port currently accounts for 20 percent of the trade in the Middle East. Al Yafei pointed out that the Hamad Port receives all kinds of commercial vessels such as container ships, car ships, grain and steel carriers and rolling ships, including livestock vessels in addition to general cargo ships of all kinds.

It is worth mentioning that Hamad Port was officially opened in December 2016. It is the vital nerve of Qatar’s trade with the world, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, and has the capacity to accommodate the largest vessels of all types and vessels of various sizes and weights. The port consists of several terminals with a different capacity, including a general cargo and a grain terminal, a car receiving station, a cattle station, a coastal security ship station and a marine support and support station.